People of all ages are interested in holistic health and are looking to attain not only physical strength but also emotional benefits from their fitness regime. Yoga seems to offer everything from physical to spiritual and provides many "ah ha!" moments in ones own practice.
Choosing the best yoga instructor can be daunting, as there are many available practitioners and styles today. A great yoga instructor will provide an experience which nurtures, awakens and challenges you at all levels.
Here are the 7 most important attributes to consider:
1. Your instructor personifies "the Guru", and is attuned to each student's needs.
He/she must be able to provide gentle encouragement in:
performing the physical postures (asana's) in correct alignment,
bringing awareness of the breath to mind - to relax the body, and body systems,
calming the mind in order to embrace the divine from within.
2. Holds a happinesslifetime.com Yoga Instructor Certification and continues to learn within the field.
3. He/she has a daily Yoga practice outside of teaching classes.
Very important! The Yoga Instructor will teach from a place of knowing. (Knowing at the cellular level, that is.)
"Yoga is 99% practice and 1% theory." Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois
4. Customizes the Yoga class to the individuals' needs and is well trained in personal safety.
The yoga instructor will modify the postures to make them accessible to all, and will use props (blocks, blankets, chair, bolsters, straps, belts, eyepillows)... whatever it takes, to aid the student both comfortably, and safely into and out of the yoga postures.
5. Is interested, shows empathy, and ethically conducts his/herself at all times.
6. Is prompt in arrival and starts/finishes class on time.
7. Incorporates theory teaching (ie) stories, anecdotes, music, chanting as well as teaching other types of Yoga occasionally. (variety)
How exciting it will be, to learn a little history and mythology, to sing occasionally whether your voice cooperates or not, to become more flexible in both body and in ways of thinking, and to simply enjoy an ancient art form- amongst great people!
"Yoga heals, nourishes, and challenges us. The practice infiltrates every corner of our lives." Valerie Jeremijenko
Copyright ? 2010
Heather Johnston is a Certified Yoga Instructor, a Registered Dental Hygienist and a writer based in Cambridge, Ontario Canada. Visit Heather at YogaRestores.com YogaRestores.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment